I posted on Fb 2 days ago: when I was younger my parents warned me not to discuss Politics, $, or Religion. I don't talk about my $ to anyone because it's none of their business; I don't debate about Politics because it will turn your best friend into your bitter enemy; & as for Religion - we can discuss that peacefully.
It kind of bothered me that people who have been friends for years took this Election so personal that they stopped being friends with one another? That's why you don't discuss Politics! (Unless you can back up your viewpoint or you have "leather skin.") If you know your friends, if they are truly your friends, then you should have known at some point their Religious/Political affiliation. Perhaps your "so-called" friend is a closet racists? Although I voted in the Election on Tuesday, as I do every election since I was 18, I did not see how either candidate was going to help me - part of the poor class! One talked about rebuilding the middle class, while the other talked about tax breaks for the rich.
My father who does not have a high school education, retired early from Con Ed & is considered Middle Class. He worked hard, saved his $, & made smart, sound investments. He owns a Condo in Harlem and property in PA. My mother who has a degree has been struggling with stable employment for the past 5 years. She was once in the Middle Class category & is now classified as the "working poor." In regards to myself, the same welfare center I worked as a Caseworker for NYC/HRA-Dept. Social Service - I am now a client/participant. I could have remained at my job & been promoted to supervisor, but I made a choice to be a stay-at-home mom. Both my sons were born prematurely, & I knew the youngest was having developmental delays. If I remained a working class citizen, I would not have been eligible to receive all the assistance that comes with SSI/medicaid. Not to mention, I would have to find a childcare provider who would allow 4 therapist from Early Intervention to come into their home on a daily basis to work with my son. I am not making up excuses, but giving you my facts! Six years later, my autistic child is doing better than my 9 y/o in Catholic School. Therefore I do not regret my decision.
Not once have I asked any one of my friends for $, unless I really needed it. (And that's probably about 3 family members.) People who really know me, know how I frivolous I was with $. If I had it - you had it too. The one friend I did ask, turned me down politely and I understood. However, this same friend a year later, jokingly asked me "when was I getting off his dollar?" - In reference to me receiving Public Assistance. I was hurt, mortified , & shocked to say the least. But I kindly replied I was using my parents' tax dollars. We still remain friends...
And for those who think people on welfare are "getting over" on the system, impossible! I'm here to tell you from personal experience, who worked for the system for 9 years & now I'm a client. And for those "friends" on my page who forgot where they came from; whose parents/grandparents never received food stamps or medicaid; & does not have at least one family member living in the "hood;" let me break it down. Add up my grocery receipts & subtract that from my food stamps. Now take my son's monthly SSI check & subtract my NYCHA rent, my Time Warner Cable, my cell phone (the free phone my older son uses), & my oldest son's tuition (in which he receives 75% from the Cardinal Scholarship Fund). I also forgot to mention 1 credit card bill, my own tuition expenses from CUNY, & transportation costs to take my oldest son to school (in which he has a 1/2 fare metro-card). We are not even talking about uniforms for school (both public & private), school shoes, sneakers & boots (from Payless), and winter coats & jackets. Oh and yes - the baby daddy helps; along with a $140 stipend I receive from welfare every 2 weeks. That is how I manage to get by every month. I get my hair done maybe twice a year - for my Birthday & Mother's Day. I barely have my nails done monthly because I bite them so often...
So the next time you decide to talk about welfare recipients, people in the projects, or those people in the "hood," - think about your dear friend - yours truly.
If this was 20 years ago, I would have knocked on your door, as soon as you decided to talk recklessly out your mouth! But because I am older, wiser, and a mother - I really don't have the time, the energy, nor patience for people's non-sense...
In this day in age, very few things shock me or even matter to me. If it doesn't concern my children, or my budget, then so be it...
Like I told a co-worker of mine, "you never know when you will be standing on the other side of that window" ...
And while I'm finishing my ranting & raving, I'm going to put it out there: I don't have a problem with white people. However, I do have issues with both Blacks & Puerto Ricans - who forgot their families' humble beginnings; and now mock others, but yet call themselves Christians? And for those Blacks & Puerto Ricans who are the original "Cosby kids" - I humbly apologize!
God Bless You All!
Ache'
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